While I agree with the author in his previous posts in this series. anyone coming up into web development or front-end design should first grasp javascript and then learn how to use frameworks like jQuery. However I think that what these frameworks offer is faster prototyping and easier maintenance of web applications. Quickly accessing the api for functionality is often essential in quick turn around where creating all the functionality each time would add more time to a project. But as with all things in life we should be mindful of each and everything we load and pick and choose carefully.
Its not that I need jQuery, its that has such a large user base and vast amount of plugins. It makes rapid development of dynamic front end elements so darn easy.
Im confused what limitations are you refering to? anything that you can't do with jQuery you can still do with straight java script. Just cause you use the framework does not me you are shackled to it. As for the using tables.. these two things are fundamentally different one has a place and is horribly misused when used for layout. The other is a framework that adds a wealth of functionality and additional functionality via plugins.
